Pickford and Januzaj star in Sunderland win

Jordan Pickford and Adnan Januzaj starred as Sunderland held on to record a valuable 1-0 win against Watford in Saturday's Premier League clash.

Sunderland 1 Watford 0

Pickford makes superb save

Britos misses great chance

Van Aanholt scores after the break

Deeney spurns best chance to equalise

Match summary

Both teams had chances early but Nordin Amrabat went the closest when his volley forced a fine save from Jordan Pickford. The best chance of the first period then fell to Miguel Britos who saw his goal-bound header hit a teammate.

Patrick van Aanholt made it 1-0 after the break following great work from Adnan Januzaj and Jermaine Defoe saw the Dutch international score at the second attempt at the near post. Troy Deeney later missed Watford's best chance to equalise in the 73rd minute.

FULL TIME: After a nervy five minutes of extra time the whistle goes and PvA's 49th minute strike is the difference pic.twitter.com/PCbaQwbwh7

It was a breathless start at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland won a corner early but Jermain Defoe couldn't do enough with his header. Watford went straight down the pitch and Nordin Amrabat then saw his volley brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford.

The Black Cats were controlling possession though it was the Hornets who went close when Jose Holebas' low cross nearly found Troy Deeney, but Donald Love deflected it wide across the goal. Watford spurned a great chance in the 27th minute when Holebas picked out Miguel Britos but his goal-bound header hit teammate Younes Kaboul and went wide.

After the break, it was the Black Cats who hit the front when excellent play from Adnan Januzaj saw him ghost past Kaboul and pick out Defoe in the right channel of Watford's box. He drove a cross on the floor across the six-yard box and Patrick van Aanholt did brilliantly to swivel and finish in the 49th minute on the second attempt.

It was nearly 2-0 after another good run from Januzaj saw his cross find Victor Anichebe on the edge of the penalty area, and his first time effort whistled inches past the post in the 64th minute with Heurelho Gomes beaten.

Watford's best moment to equalise fell to Troy Deeney who saw his diving header from around the penalty spot go wide with the keeper looking stranded in the 73rd minute. The away side created further moments in the final stages but Pickford blocked efforts from both Daryl Janmaat and Odion Ighalo after set-piece situations.